A thorough review of the new Yu Yu Hakusho OVA: A touching reunion that exceeds expectations

Yu Yu Hakusho: The appeal and reviews of the completely new OVA

Introduction

"Yu Yu Hakusho", which aired from 1992 to 1995, is an anime based on the manga of the same name by Yoshihiro Togashi, and its popularity spread not only in Japan but also around the world. "Yu Yu Hakusho Complete New OVA", released in 2018, attracted a lot of attention as a long-awaited new work for fans. In this article, we will explain in detail the content and production background of the OVA, the appeal of the characters, and its evaluation. We will also introduce related works and recommended points, so please read to the end.

story

"Yu Yu Hakusho Completely New OVA" consists of two episodes. Each episode depicts a new story that differs from the original manga and TV series.

"TWO SHOTS"

This is the story of Kurama, a monster who lives in the human world as Minamino Shuichi, a middle school student. As people disappear one after another in the town where he lives, Kurama is attacked by the Evil Eye Master Hiei, and his classmate Kitajima Maya is kidnapped by the Hango-ki. To save Maya, Kurama heads to the ruins where the Yatsute lurks, while Hiei searches for his sister Yukina. In this episode, there are many scenes that highlight the cooperative relationship between Kurama and Hiei, as well as the individual personalities of each of them.

"It's either a success or a failure."

A coup occurs in the spirit world, and nearly 100 people, including Koenma and Botan, are taken hostage. Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama, and Hiei team up again to enter the spirit world and rescue the hostages. However, there are three stop buttons for the "Interdimensional Cannon" aimed at the human world, and they are forced into a situation where they don't know which one is the real one. Yusuke is faced with three ultimate choices to make, and the ending is full of suspense, drawing viewers in.

Background

"Yu Yu Hakusho New OVA" was released by Bandai Visual on October 26, 2018. The original work is by Yoshihiro Togashi, directed by Noriyuki Abe, and animated by studio Pierrot. The OVA was produced to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the TV anime adaptation, and was made in response to strong requests from fans. It consists of two 30-minute episodes, faithfully recreating the worldview of the original while developing a new story.

Character Appeal

The appeal of "Yu Yu Hakusho" is undoubtedly its unique characters, and this appeal is fully displayed in the OVA.

Kurama (Minamino Shuichi)

Voice actor: Megumi Ogata

Kurama is a youkai who lives in the human world as Minamino Shuichi. His calm and intelligent personality and ability to turn plants into weapons play an important role in the OVA. In particular, "Two Shots" highlights his human side and depicts his actions to protect his friends.

Hiei

Voice actor: Nobuyuki Hiyama

Hiei is a cool demon with an evil eye on his forehead. In the OVA, we see his actions as he searches for his sister, Yukina, and we get to see his human side, which is different from his usual cold-hearted image. His battle scenes are also very impressive and captivate the viewers.

Yusuke Urameshi

Voice actor: Nozomu Sasaki

Yusuke is a boy who is good at fighting and cares for his friends. In the OVA, his leadership and sense of justice are emphasized, and he is depicted facing difficulties together with his friends. In "To Be or Not to Be," a highlight is the scene where his decisiveness is tested.

Kazuma Kuwahara

Voice actor: Shigeru Chiba

Kuwabara is a classmate of Yusuke and has a manly personality. In the OVA, there are many battle scenes that utilize his spiritual power, and episodes that show the bond between him and his friends are depicted.

Koenma

Voice actor: Mayumi Tanaka

Koenma is the son of King Enma, the head of the spirit world, and is the one who appointed Yusuke as a spirit world detective. In the OVA, he is depicted in two forms: as a baby and as a beautiful young man, and there are some humorous scenes.

Peony

Voice actor: Sanae Miyuki

Botan is a grim reaper who guides the dead to the spirit world and is Yusuke's supporter. In the OVA, her cheerful personality and clumsy side are depicted, providing viewers with plenty of laughs.

Evaluation and Impressions

The Yu Yu Hakusho New OVA has been highly praised by fans of the original work. It has been especially praised for faithfully recreating the worldview of the original work while developing a new story. In addition, there are many scenes that highlight the individuality of the characters, which has the power to draw viewers in.

In "Two Shots," the cooperative relationship between Kurama and Hiei is depicted, emphasizing their human side. This adds depth to the characters and provides new appeal to viewers. In "To Be or Not to Be," the highlights are the teamwork between Yusuke and his friends and the tense developments, which will keep viewers hooked until the very end.

The production quality of the OVA has also been highly praised. Studio Pierrot's careful animation and Director Abe Noriyuki's direction have combined to faithfully reproduce the worldview of the original work. The intensity of the battle scenes in particular exceeds that of the TV series, leaving a strong impression on viewers.

Related Titles

The Yu Yu Hakusho New OVA is closely linked to the original manga and TV series. The original manga was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump by Yoshihiro Togashi and published by Shueisha in 19 volumes. The TV series ran for 112 episodes from 1992 to 1995 and has also been released on DVD and Blu-ray.

There are also other OVAs and movies based on "Yu Yu Hakusho." "Yu Yu Hakusho: Meikai Shitou Hen: Honoo no Kizuna," released in 1993, was produced as a sequel to the TV series and depicts the new adventures of Yusuke and his friends. "Yu Yu Hakusho: Meikai Shitou Hen: Makai no Tobira," released in 1994, is a movie that complements the final chapter of the TV series and has been highly praised by fans.

Theme songs and music

The theme song for the "Yu Yu Hakusho Complete New OVA" is "Smile Bomb" by Matsuko Mawatari. This song plays an important role in creating the atmosphere of the OVA. The OVA also uses some music from the original manga and TV series, bringing back fond memories for fans.

Recommended points

"Yu Yu Hakusho Complete New OVA" is recommended not only for fans of the original work, but also for those who like anime and action. The following points are especially recommended.

A new story

The OVA will have a new storyline that is different from the original manga and the TV series. This will allow existing fans to enjoy the world of "Yu Yu Hakusho" from a new perspective. It will also be the perfect introduction to the story for new viewers.

Character Appeal

The OVA contains many scenes that highlight the individuality of the characters. In particular, the human side of Kurama and Hiei, Yusuke's leadership, and Kuwabara's manliness are all fully displayed. This makes it easy for viewers to empathize with the characters and draw them into the story.

High-quality production

Thanks to the careful animation of Studio Pierrot and the direction of Director Abe Noriyuki, the production quality of the OVA is very high. The intensity of the battle scenes in particular exceeds that of the TV series, leaving a strong impression on viewers. It has also been praised for faithfully recreating the worldview of the original work.

A fusion of nostalgia and freshness

The OVA uses some of the music from the original work and the TV series, evoking fond memories for fans. At the same time, it also depicts new stories and new aspects of the characters, giving it a fresh feel. This fusion of nostalgia and freshness is one of the attractions of OVA.

summary

"Yu Yu Hakusho All-New OVA" was produced in response to strong requests from fans of the original work, and has been highly praised for its content. It has the power to draw viewers in with its new story, appealing characters, and high-quality production. It also has deep ties to the original work and TV series, making it a must-see for fans. Be sure to watch this OVA and enjoy the world of "Yu Yu Hakusho" once again.